influenza epidemic civil defense

Scientists believe, it sounds fishy to me, that the lack of social distancing during World War One cramped infantry quarters, caused the flu to mutate to a more virulent form.  If this is true keeping our distance from eachother during a future influenza pandemic should at least mildly cause it to mutate to a less virulent form "naturally", as the flu progresses through our global population.  This is a second reason to maintain basic civil defense stockpiles in your pantries.  The 1st is that you won't get sick in the first place if you don't have to get in line for groceries and water.